(ABC NEWS) -- Hip replacement surgery is a common procedure- but the cost can vary greatly.

Apparently where patients go for surgery determines how much they will pay. Also, a new study finds many hospitals are hard pressed to tell people how much their surgery is going to cost.

Going rates for the procedure may vary from hospital to hospital by a factor of 10. It's a common surgery among the elderly, but half of all hip replacements are also done on people younger than 65, some of whom may not have private insurance.

A study in the journal of the American Medical Association found totals for surgery ranging anywhere from $11,000 to more than $125,000. Experts said patients willing to make a lot of calls might have success shopping around for the best deals.